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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to strategic plans to address hunger, food, nutrition, and |
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obesity in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.00251 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.00251. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ADDRESSING HUNGER, FOOD, |
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NUTRITION, AND OBESITY. The department shall develop a strategic |
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plan that includes as a goal of the department addressing hunger, |
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food, nutrition, and obesity in this state by: |
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(1) increasing access to nutritious foods by persons |
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in this state; |
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(2) increasing access to and participation in the |
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national free or reduced-price lunch program established under 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. by persons eligible for the program; |
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(3) strengthening the department's education |
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initiatives to increase awareness of food and nutrition programs in |
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this state by using public service announcements; and |
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(4) facilitating obesity prevention and diabetes |
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awareness initiatives. |
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SECTION 2. Section 7.021, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) The agency shall develop a strategic plan that includes |
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as a goal of the agency addressing hunger, food, nutrition, and |
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obesity in this state by: |
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(1) increasing access to nutritious foods by persons |
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served by the agency; |
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(2) increasing access to and participation in the |
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national free or reduced-price lunch program established under 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. by eligible persons served by the |
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agency; |
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(3) strengthening the agency's education initiatives |
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to increase awareness of food and nutrition programs in this state |
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by using public service announcements; and |
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(4) facilitating obesity prevention and diabetes |
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awareness initiatives. |
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SECTION 3. Section 531.022, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) In addition to the goals specified by Subsection (c), |
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the plan must include as a goal of the commission, the Department of |
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Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of State |
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Health Services addressing hunger, food, nutrition, and obesity in |
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this state by: |
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(1) increasing access to nutritious foods by persons |
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served by the agencies; |
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(2) increasing access to and participation in the |
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national free or reduced-price lunch program established under 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. by eligible persons served by the |
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agencies; |
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(3) strengthening each agency's education initiatives |
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to increase awareness of food and nutrition programs in this state |
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by using public service announcements; and |
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(4) facilitating obesity prevention and diabetes |
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awareness initiatives. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
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this Act and using existing funds: |
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(1) the Department of Agriculture shall develop the |
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strategic plan required by Section 12.00251, Agriculture Code, as |
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added by this Act; and |
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(2) the Texas Education Agency shall develop the |
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strategic plan required by Section 7.021(e), Education Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall include the goal and methods of |
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implementing that goal specified by Section 531.022(f), Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, in the first biennial update of the |
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coordinated strategic plan for health and human services required |
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by Section 531.022, Government Code, as amended by this Act, that is |
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required after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |